Jeanine Pirro Rips Gov. Pritzker After Deadly Labor Day Weekend in Chicago

Conservative commentator Jeanine Pirro on Tuesday sharply criticized Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker after a violent Labor Day weekend in Chicago, saying the governor “should be ashamed of himself” for the city’s spike in shootings and for rejecting federal assistance proposed by the White House.

At least 58 people were shot over the holiday weekend in Chicago and eight were killed, local officials reported. Pirro, speaking on the Fox News program America Reports, accused Democratic leaders of failing to protect residents and of opposing a federal crime crackdown that the Trump administration has carried out in Washington, D.C., and could expand to other cities.

"This guy Pritzker, he should be ashamed of himself," Pirro said. "It is a rejection of your oath to protect the people." She argued that Democratic opposition to federal involvement in local policing undermines public safety and compared the situation to federal actions taken in the nation’s capital.

President Donald Trump on Monday suggested deploying the National Guard to help curb the violence in Chicago, an idea that faces resistance from Illinois officials. Gov. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have both rejected the proposal. In an interview with CBS, Pritzker characterized the possible deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago as "an invasion" and questioned the administration’s motives.

Illinois leaders and local law enforcement have emphasized that responsibility for public safety rests primarily with state and local governments. Pritzker and other state officials have said they prefer to address root causes of violence through investments in services and community-based policing rather than through a federal security presence.

Political debate over the proper role of federal forces in U.S. cities has intensified amid the recent shootings. The Trump administration has pointed to its use of federal law enforcement in Washington, D.C., and suggested similar measures could be deployed elsewhere to assist local authorities. Critics contend that sending federal or National Guard personnel into cities without state consent risks politicizing public safety and could inflame tensions.

Pirro framed her criticism in partisan terms, faulting Democratic resistance to federal action even as violent incidents mounted. Her remarks came as Chicago officials worked to compile weekend crime data and as city and state leaders continued discussions about strategies to reduce gun violence.

Local elected officials stressed the need for coordinated responses that involve police, social services and community organizations. Chicago Police Department officials said they were investigating the incidents from the weekend and that public safety resources would be allocated to neighborhoods most affected by the shootings.

The exchange underscores a broader, ongoing dispute between the White House and Democratic mayors and governors over federal intervention in local policing. Any formal deployment of federal troops or National Guard units typically requires coordination with state authorities; governors can request assistance or refuse federal offers, and legal constraints such as the Posse Comitatus Act shape how and when federal forces may be used.

As Illinois officials and community leaders respond to the Labor Day weekend violence, debate is likely to continue over whether federal involvement would help reduce shootings or complicate local efforts to rebuild trust and address underlying causes of violence.